text:
One-year sentence in state trooper's death leaves some 'sickened'
BROCKTON – Former Brockton Police Chief William Conlon said he was "sickened and saddened" when he heard that the driver who struck and killed a state trooper in 2010 was sentenced earlier this month to serve one year in jail.
"I'm not sure that a year seems like a very good tradeoff," Conlon said. "It doesn't send a loud enough message."
State Sen. James Timilty, D-Walpole, agrees with Conlon and said he is planning to file a bill by January that would stiffen motor vehicle homicide laws in the state.
State police Sgt. Douglas Weddleton, 52, was killed June 16, 2010, when he was struck by a vehicle after he had pulled over another vehicle on Interstate 95 in Mansfield.
Anthony Perry Jr., 51, of Hyde Park, was found guilty of motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation, a misdemeanor, by a Fall River jury earlier this month. He was sentenced to one year in jail and three years of probation upon his release from jail. He also lost his driver's license for 15 years and was ordered not to seek a license reinstatement or get a license from another state.
Conlon, who was Brockton police chief from 2006 to 2012, had a 15-year friendship with Weddleton.
Weddleton, a father of three, and Conlon lived in Brockton at the same time and had children of similar age. Weddleton would visit the Brockton police station to gather ballistics evidence.
"He's a Brockton resident and so am I. Our kids were the same age and played baseball in the same league," Conlon said.
He said he is "sickened and saddened" by the result of Perry's trial.
"I feel horrible for the family. They've waited a long time for some closure, and I don't think this is the closure they were looking for. I don't think they feel any sense of justice is served," Conlon said.
During a victim impact statement in the courtroom after Perry was found guilty, Weddleton's wife, Judy Weddleton, said, "There is no punishment great enough, which you could serve, that would be justice."
In Massachusetts, motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of 21/2 years in jail.
Attorney Russell Matson, who has a law practice in Braintree, said the crime is classified as a misdemeanor because the person is found to not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs and it is not premeditated.
"If someone goes out and does something deliberately dangerous, that's a different story," he said.
For Conlon, he thinks the law is too lenient and Weddleton's family must now suffer the consequences.
"It's something that the Legislature should consider. We're stuck with the laws that we have so unless we change them we have to live with them," he said. "Instances like this make you wonder, maybe it is time for change because this doesn't seem to be working."
Timilty is hoping to work to make penalties stiffer for those convicted of motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation. He still vividly remembers the call he got from a state trooper who worked with Weddleton informing him of his death.
Timilty pioneered the Move Over Law in the state, which requires drivers approaching a stationary emergency or maintenance vehicle to move safely over one lane and slow down. The law went into effect in 2009.
"We may have to look at the negligent operation," he said. "I'm certainly going to take a look at augmenting that sentence."
Benjamin Paulin may be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Free online lectures: Explore a world of ideas
Founded in 1920, the Georgia Center for the Book, based at the DeKalb County Public Library, is the statewide affiliate of the Library of Congress with a mission of serving libraries, literacy and literature. We sponsor two popular literary competitions for students, develop and encourage programming for and other literary-related organizations and sponsor some 90 literary programs each year, bringing more than 125 authors to metro Atlanta and the state for free public events.
3.8.2011 (38:38)
Patricia Sprinkle: Friday's Daughter
2.22.2011 (56:39)
Edward Glaeser: Triumph of the City
2.8.2011 (45:25)
Wayne Greenhaw: Fighting the Devil in Dixie
2.3.2011 (38:14)
Bill Briggs: The Third Miracle
12.11.2010 (24:38)
Susan Spain and Elizabeth Dulemba: 12 Days of Christmas in Georgia
12.6.2010 (50:24)
William Starr: Whiskey, Kilts, and the Lochness Monster
11.15.2010 (58:15)
James C. Cobb: The South and America Since World War II
11.3.2010 (54:16)
Daniel K. Williams: God's Own Party
8.16.2010 (52:04)
June Hall McCash: Almost to Eden
8.2.2010 (41:22)
Rafe Esquith: Lighting Their Fires
7.15.2010 (32:21)
Helena Andrews: Bitch is the New Black
7.12.2010 (51:15)
Jon Clinch: Kings of the Earth
7.7.2010 (39:15)
Tom Harbin: Waking Up Blind
6.29.2010 (57:44)
Thinking Southern Football
6.29.2010 (45:54)
Joshilyn Jackson: Backseat Saints
6.25.2010 (39:34)
Jane Green: Promises to Keep

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- Home
- Non Navigation Categories
- New Bracelet Collection
- Grey Agate and Brown Coconut Shell Adam Silver and Stone SKINNY Bracelet
|Extended Returns - Until 15th Jan 2023
Our Ampersand Guarantee
|Recycled Solid .925 Sterling Silver (100%)
|Handcrafted In Britain
|1-Year Brand Warranty
|Genuine Natural Stones (100%)
|Ethical Supply Chain & Traceability
|Sizing & How To Wear
Full Product Detail
The Grey Agate and Brown Coconut Shell Adam Silver and Stone SKINNY Bracelet was both designed and skilfully handcrafted completely in Great Britain, In Quality We Trust. For the Modern Journeyman (and woman), ANCHOR & CREW takes ownership of an exploratory lifestyle and enjoys the Happy-Good Life. Combining British craft manufacturing with a discerning modern-minimalist style, this ANCHOR & CREW bracelet features:
- 4mm diameter genuine grey agate and 7mm brown natural coconut shell stone beads, with elastic nylon thread (GB)
- Solid .925 sterling silver logo cylinder (GB)
This bracelet is available in four bracelet lengths, 17cm, 19cm, 21cm or 23cm in circumference, with the elastic nylon thread able to expand to fit onto your wrist. To take the bracelet on or off your wrist, simply slide the bracelet over your hand. Less is More.
Reviews. What Others Are Saying
This product hasn't received any reviews written by Verified Purchasers yet. Maybe you could be the first?
Warranty & Product Care
This bracelet is covered under a 1-year brand warranty, and care instructions are included within the packaging of every purchase. The guarantee does not cover against damage that has occurred due to maltreatment and normal wear and tear.Product Guarantee & Care Advice
Packaging & Gift Wrap
All products come within a white fabric presentational protective pouch, and if worth over £50.00 at RRP, are accompanied with a recycled metal tin. For more, our gift wrapping service presents your product within an additional signature blue sleeve and is made complete with decorative silver and gold accent gift wrap and white ribbon. Optional, you may also write a short message during your checkout, with this written by us on an little message tag.


text: Get discounted prices and save big on shipping when shopping at proshop.seahawks.com If you're short on cash and having a hard time grabbing that last-minute gift. Check out our Clearance section for all kinds of Seahawks gifting ideas and ways to save this Holiday season. Variety is the spice of life, and we have plenty to choose for that Seahawks fan in the clearance section. Check out the enormous selection on clearance such as our Seahawks beanies, knit hats, gift boxes and Seahawks shoes. Don't wait till Christmas day to grab that last-minute Seahawks gift. Now is the time to save money and show who your #1 team is.


text:
Getting Around
Info - Missionary PrayerGuard
Info - UPG PrayerGuard
Get Your Own PrayerGuard
Contact PrayerGuard!
Stuff to Do...
Promote PrayerGuard
Ethne Prayer Section for Unreached Peoples
Put these buttons
On Your Site
Pray for The Unreached People Group of the Hour
Praying for:
Khmer of Korea, South
Topic: 1 of 3
Individuals: Trouble - Open doors for the Gospel
When epidemics or natural disasters strike, or trouble that just come to individuals and familes, the results can be devastating. Often, in the midst of this difficulty and uncertainity there comes an opening for the Gospel.
Jer. 16:19 O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress, to you the nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, "Our fathers possessed nothing but false gods, worthless idols that did them no good."
Lord, You are the good shepherd. You look after each one of your children. You are the only safe refuge and fortress in times of trouble.
Lord, today some of the
Khmer of Korea, South
are facing trouble they cannot manage. They are in need of Your help. I ask Lord, that You would respond to their need, and come to their aid. Use this crisis in their life to introduce them to Your goodness. Allow this difficulty to soften their hearts to Your truth. Give them the grace they need to walk away from the god who has failed them and embrace You as their only Lord and Savior. Open their eyes Lord to see You as the lover of their soul, their refuge, and their fortress.
Next Prayer »
Pray-it Say-it Cards
Site software customization by
SaeSolved:: LLC


text:
Ideal Getaway Cottage
Two barn doors slide open to reveal an 8-foot entrance connecting the kitchen directly to the outdoors.
Screen Porch
A screen porch is a must in this Midwest retreat. A daybed invites catnaps. A tree-branch lamp, tree-trunk table and collected bits of flora and fauna set a natural design theme.
The Barn
Stone, barn board and corrugated metal cover the walls of the barn. The rustic-looking materials are all new or faux products that can bring an aged feel to any home. A large work/eat island offers extra storage and is flanked by a contemporary take on the Windsor chair.
The Cooking Wall
The cooking wall has expansive countertop work areas. Deep drawers in the lower cabinets eliminate the need for upper cabinetry.
The Kitchen
Transoms in the kitchen let breezes and light flow freely between porch and bath spaces on either side.
Kitchen Sink
A carved drainboard in the limestone-look, solid-surface countertop creates an area handy for rinsing produce. Old farm sinks inspired the drainboard and the deep, apron-front stainless steel sink combo, which can handle nonkitchen chores such as potting flowers.
Kitchen Storage Unit
A clever, 15-inch-deep storage unit with roll-up metal door saves countertop space by tucking between wall studs, just deep enough for glassware and mugs.
Kitchen Storage Cabinets
In a tight space, mobility can be a plus. Cabinets on casters can move from room to room, depending on the need.
The Shower
A floor-to-ceiling, three-pane window separates the bath from the corrugated-metal outdoor shower, where bathing under the sun beckons. On the inside of the bath window, Levolor PanelTrac panels offer privacy.
Daybed Storage
Metal-look Thermofoil cabinets offer storage and a base for the daybed on the screen porch. A drawer with a wood pull-out tray makes a handy side table.
Kitchen Cabinets and Lighting
The kitchen's inside-cabinet lighting shows off dishware behind screened glass. When the lights are off, the dishes seem to disappear. Undercabinet lights illuminate work surfaces and the backsplash, as well as framed art.
The Trough
A backsplash, wall faucet and carved counter offer a new take on an old farm idea: the trough. A slanted area in the counter directs water down to the modern silver "trough" below. A simple closet mirror hung horizontally and framed with raw cedar looks expensive.
The Bath
Bins over the tub offer bath storage, and a ladder and hollowed root vase hold towels. A handmade pot holder rug fits the rural theme.
Entry Nook
Outside, opposite the shower, a back entry nook has room for a free-form wooden bench and plenty of hooks for paraphernalia necessary for a weekend visit with nature.


text:
3 / $39
alert recorded
Thank you, your request has been taken into account. An email will be sent to you when the product is available again.
CROTCH LINING : 100.00 % Cotton
SHELL FABRIC : 91.00 % Polyamide, 9.00 % Elastane
LACE : 90.00 % Polyamide, 10.00 % Elastane
Reference: 653945770
Free delivery from $75
The delivery is offered to you from $75 of purchase (Express Courrier with DHL). Delivery cost under $75 purchase : $9. To know our delivery conditions, please go to the bottom of this page in our "Shipping see conditions" section.
Easy returns
If you're not completely satisfied with your Etam purchase, you have 30 days to return it. We will provide you with a shipping label, and a $9 return shipping fee will be deducted from your refund. Products must be returned in their original condition.
Secure Payments
The security of online purchases is paramount. Your banking data are fully encrypted and protected (SSL). This means that your bank details are transmitted directly to the bank.


text:
Following the announcement that John Tayer is resigning his position on the Regional Transportation District's Board of Directors, Boulder County is seeking applicants to fill the rest of Tayer's two-year term.
The applicant would represent and must live in District O, which includes the cities of Boulder, Jamestown, Louisville, Lyons, Nederland, Superior and unincorporated Boulder County west of 95th Street.
The RTD website has an interactive map of the district to determine if a specific address is in District O.
The RTD board meets on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. in Denver. In addition to regular board meetings, there are also committee meetings and special meetings. The applicant chosen would have to serve until the next election in 2014.
Applicants should have professional and volunteer experience in working on transit and transportation policy issues, and work on projects requiring regional collaboration are of particular interest.
Those who wish to apply should send a letter and resume to Michelle Krezek at email@example.com by 4:30 p.m. Jan. 17. Letters may also be delivered o the third floor of the Boulder County Courthouse, 1325 Pearl St., during regular business hours.
The Boulder County commissioners are tasked with appointing Tayer's replacement and will give more information about the process once the applications have been reviewed.
Tayer announced he is resigning in order to focus on his role as the president and CEO of the Boulder Chamber, a position he began in December. Tayer — who represented District O for six years — will continue to serve on the board until a replacement is selected.
For more information, contact Krezek at 303-441-3561 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Busybox replacement project
- Summary
- Write a non-GPL replacement for Busybox
- Proposer
- Tim Bird
Busybox is a widely used program which implements several Linux command line utilities in a single, multi-tool binary. It is provided under the GPL license. Due to its utility and ubiquity, it has been used in a very large number of embedded devices. This includes use by companies who are not as diligent about their GPL commitments as they should be.
Busybox is arguably the most litigated piece of GPL software in the world. Unfortunately, it is unclear what the remedy should be when a GPL violation occurs with busybox. Litigants have sometimes requested remedies outside the scope of busybox itself, such as review authority over unrelated products, or right of refusal over non-busybox modules. This causes concern among chip vendors and suppliers.
The purpose of this project is to produce a program that is as capable and useful as busybox for a large majority of embedded Linux projects, such that busybox is easy to replace in existing products and can be supplanted as the default choice for a multi-tool program in most new projects.
Supported Commands
It is expected that the first major milestone release (version 1.0) of the busybox replacement program will include the following commands: [See the project page.]
The scope of the project is dependent on the target use cases that are envisioned for the replacement tool. Busybox is currently used in a very large number of places, and it is impractical to replace it's full functionality in a short time. However, busybox as it currently stands includes very many non-essential programs and features. The overall goal would be to provide essential busybox functionality (e.g. with that contained in busybox version 1.0).
One additional area of commands which is outside the traditional busybox coverage area, is Android tools provided by toolbox. Toolbox is a non-GPL multi-tool program provided as part of the Android Open Source Project, and used in Android devices. It is limited in functionality, however, compared to busybox, and so many developers install busybox in their Android devices to supplement the command set. Google has a goal of reducing the amount of GPL software in user-space for Android devices. A busybox replacement that implemented the toolbox commands could useful to avoid having Android developer adopt busybox by default. But more importantly, a replacement that just focused on the weaknesses of toolbox could serve this tool supplementation role that busybox fills, with very little effort.
It is expected that it will require about 6 months of part-time developer work to achieve the first major milestone for the project.
This project will very likely start with a base of non-GPL software which is already available, and has been scrutinized to be free from GPL legal encumbrances, from the Toybox project
Project Management
Information about the status and management of this project are at: Busybox replacement
Contractor Candidates
- Rob Landley
- Emile "iMil" Heitor (Beastiebox author)
Related work
- [1] Busybox - http://busybox.net/
- [2] Toybox - http://www.landley.net/toybox/about.html
- [3] Bsdbox - http://wiki.freebsd.org/AdrianChadd/BsdBox
- [4] Opensolaris busybox - http://hub.opensolaris.org/bin/view/Project+busybox/
- by Roland Mainz
- See http://mail.opensolaris.org/mailman/listinfo/busybox-dev
- I can't find the source, maybe it's part of the ksh93 project?
- [5] Beastiebox – http://beastiebox.sourceforge.net/
People interested in supporting this project can do one of several things:
- If you are an embedded Linux developer, you can start working on the ToyBox code, adding commands or features to it.
- If you are a company interested in sponsoring or donating engineering resources to this project, please contact Tim Bird. (I used to have my Sony e-mail address here, but it gave people the wrong impression that this was a Sony project. Please use my gmail account: tbird20d (at) gmail dot com.
This project is still Under Construction.
This project is in the proposal and fact-gathering stage, and is still under construction. Please be advised that multiple aspects of this project are still being defined and under consideration. We have not 100% committed to using ToyBox as the replacement, although this seems very likely at this point. If the project proceed, then when it is launched, it will likely be announced with more firm details about the roadmap, governance, license and schedule.
- Q. Simply providing the source, as the licence requires, would avoid litigation. Isn't that easier than re-writing busybox?
- A. It is true that providing the source would avoid litigation. In most cases, this *is* easier than re-writing busybox. However, in some cases - especially when dealing with a naive or defunct supplier, it can be difficult or impossible to find the 'correct' source for busybox. It would be better not to get into a situation where the lack of correct source from a 3rd party supplier resulted in extreme remedies being required. This project aims to make a useful alternative to busybox which completely eliminates any possibility of infringement, wrongdoing, and risk of litigation for this particular piece of software.
- Q. Isn't this a lot of work to avoid a relatively small effort (publishing the source to busybox)?
- A. It will be some work, but it will likely only have to be done once, and the burden and/or cost of the work can be distributed throughout the industry. The cost to a single company to support this project is very small in comparison to the legal liability and costs should some problem occur with busybox compliance.
- Q. Is this being done to prevent the SFC from asking for the source to the Linux kernel?
- A. No, although it would have that effect. As part of their request to remedy a busybox GPL violation, the SFC does ask for source code unrelated to busybox. Personally, I believe this is improper. However, my main reason for proposing this project is to avoid having the SFC gain review authority over unrelated products produced by a company. The larger the set of Linux-based products that are produced by a company, the greater exposure there is for a possible mistake, and the greater potential costs that would incur in the event of litigation and/or settlement.
- Q. Wouldn't it be morally better to help companies fulfill their GPL obligations, than to have them avoid GPL software?
- A. There are multiple people who provide consulting services to help people fulfill their GPL obligations. This is a good thing and it should be encouraged. Helping companies avoid infringing the license of software they use is good. Also good is providing software for companies that helps them avoid legal entanglements at all. Arguments beyond this get into BSD vs. GPL license wars, which I don't think are productive to engage in here.
- Q. Tim Bird, the proposer of this project, works for Sony. Is this a Sony project?
- A. No. Although Tim is employed by Sony, he spends a portion of his employed time working on behalf of the embedded industry to improve Linux and encourage GPL compliance. As of February 2, 2012, Sony has not endorsed or agreed to support this project. This wiki page is for gathering information and project description information, to present to various companies to solicit support and resources for the project.
- Q. Can Tim's creation of this proposal be used to infer anything about Sony's compliance record, future compliance intent, or other business practices?
- A. Tim has only recently informed his management about this proposal, and Sony has not yet (as of 2/2/12) agreed to support it. So, "no, not really". Sony has a good compliance record, and has strong compliance policies in place. Tim is doing this as part of his (paid for by Sony) role in the industry to address issues which inhibit the adoption of Linux in consumer electronics.
- Q. If it doesn't affect Sony, why are you doing this? How does the busybox litigation and the remedy terms requested by the SFC inhibit the adoption of Linux in consumer electronics?
- A. It is not expected to affect Sony directly, because Sony has good compliance practices. However, any company can make a mistake. There are instances where this litigation and the terms requested by the SFC have resulted in companies dropping their embedded Linux projects. It has also caused even compliant companies to re-evaluate their adoption of Linux. This has a net negative effect (in my opinion) on the adoption of Linux and ultimate amount of GPL software produced. Tim (and Sony) view the production of GPL software as a good thing. It does sound strange that this is the goal when the proposed project exists to replace a piece of GPL software with a non-GPL piece of software, but the overall desired affect of this project is to encourage more companies to adopt GPL software (particularly the Linux kernel), and to comply with the obligations of the GPL license.
[feel free to add new questions here. The ones above feel a bit 'rigged'.]
additional questions
- Q. What companies using Busybox did the SFC request unrelated source code from - please clarify unrelated?
- A. My understanding is that everyone the SFC litigates and eventually settles with is required to pass SFC audits for 3 years. See http://lwn.net/Articles/478337/ I believe that SFC requires auditing of every GPL-based product a company ships, whether or not it had compliance issues.
- Q. What companies dropped embedded Linux projects in response to litigation from the SFC??
- A. LinkSys/Cisco is one example. See http://mjg59.dreamwidth.org/10437.html?thread=301509#cmt301509
- Q. What compliant companies re-evaluated their adoption of Linux, please clarify 're-evaluate`?
- A. Unfortunately, a lot of the reaction to the lawsuits was discussed in private and with the expectation of confidentiality. I am not at liberty to provide details here from my experience (this is Tim writing.)


text:
Rihanna's fashion collection to debut in Feb.
NEW YORK (AP) — Rihanna's collection for British brand River Island is slated for its debut next month during London Fashion Week.
Fashion week organizers listed the pop star on its official calendar of fall previews as they sent out registration materials on Thursday to the editors, stylists and retailers who cover designer collections.
The 24-year-old's first collection of clothing and accessories will be shown Feb. 16. Items will be available in River Island stores in Great Britain, and in the United States and Japan at Opening Ceremony starting on March 5.
Rihanna said in a statement that an appearance at fashion week is "a dream come true."
She already has another fashion commitment this year: She signed on to executive produce and star in the Style network reality series "Styled to Rock."


text:
Boundary: Bleed area may not be visible.
Click and drag to re-position the image, if desired.
by John Edwards
Image Size
The image is near the edges of the product but doesn't cover the entire product. Some of the background color may appear around the outside edges of the image.
Background Color
Product Details
Our shower curtains are made from 100% polyester fabric and include 12 holes at the top of the curtain for simple hanging from your own shower curtain rings. The total dimensions of each shower curtain are 71" wide x 74" tall.
Design Details
Ladybird on Norfolk Lavender
#Norfolk #ladybird #ladybug #lavender #insect #flower #flowersofinstagram #macro
Ships Within
2 - 3 business days
There are no comments for Ladybird On Norfolk Lavender #norfolk. Click here to post the first comment.
Average Rating (4.60 Stars):
Kyle Chadwick
March 20th, 2023
John Beautyman
March 17th, 2023
Love this shower curtain so much it's unique and looks great in my bathroom thank you from the United Kingdom 🙂
Darrick Bertaud
March 13th, 2023
It's great! My boys are stoked to have this as their shower curtain now, even our 3 year old daughter enjoys it!
Joseph Monforton
March 12th, 2023
It is actually quite nice. The fabric is substantial and the image is great. I'm otterly happy.
March 12th, 2023
Unique and cheerful addition to our guest bath. Happy with the quality of the product.
MARGARET MacMillan
March 11th, 2023
It is beautiful, but there is more blue than green in the pattern which was disappointing
Ladybird on Norfolk Lavender #Norfolk #ladybird #ladybug #lavender #insect #flower #flowersofinstagram #macro
For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by all forms of art. My love of drawing and painting began as a child when I first picked up a pencil and brush. Later on I discovered my father's Kodak Brownie Reflex and my love of photography and darkroom techniques began. After leaving school I studied Fine Art Photography at Art School but, to meet the needs of a growing family, followed a career in computer programming. This in turn led to my love for creating digital art in my spare time. First on an Amiga and then using Macs and PCs. My work has been widely published in books and magazines and has been used by greetings card manufacturers, haute couture designers and industrial clients.
Our return policy is very simple:
If you're not happy with a purchase that you made on MobilePrints.com, for any reason, you can return it to us within 30 days of the order date. As soon as it arrives, we'll issue a full refund for the entire purchase price. Please note - Mobile Prints does not reimburse the outgoing or return shipping charges unless the return is due to a defect in quality.
Mobile Prints sells thousands of pieces of artwork each month - all with a 100% money-back guarantee. We take great pride in the fact that hundreds of thousands of artists have chosen Mobile Prints to fulfill their orders, and we look forward to helping you select your next piece!
All shower curtains ship from our production facility within 2 - 3 business days of your order.


text:
Protests turn violent in St. Louis suburb
FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) — Police used tear gas and smoke bombs to repel crowds who threw Molotov cocktails during another violent night on the streets of a St. Louis suburb in the wake of the shooting of the unarmed 18-year old Michael Brown.
Hours earlier, the police chief had said race relations were the top priority in the town, where a white police officer fatally shot the black teen. Authorities have vowed to reach across the racial, economic and generational divide in a community in search of answers.
In the streets of Ferguson, though, the polite dialogue heard at community forums and news conferences is nowhere to be found.
Instead, officers from multiple departments in riot gear and in military equipment have clashed nightly with protesters, who chant, "Hands up, don't shoot." Wednesday saw more tense confrontations and further volleys of tear gas from police — this time paired with smoke bombs in response to flaming projectiles and other objects lobbed from the crowd. Protesters faced heavily armed police who at times trained weapons on them from armored trucks.
Two reporters said they were detained by police for not clearing out quickly enough from a McDonald's where they were working, near the protests but away from the more volatile areas. The two, who work for The Washington Post and The Huffington Post, were released without any charges. Both say they were assaulted but not seriously hurt.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that about 10 people had been arrested, including St. Louis Alderman Antonio French, who has been chronicling the protests on social media. Police had said earlier they would not have arrest information until early Thursday.
The White House said President Barack Obama — who is on vacation on the Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard — was briefed late Wednesday on the situation in Ferguson by Attorney General Eric Holder and senior adviser Valerie Jarrett. Obama has another briefing scheduled for Thursday morning.
Residents in Ferguson have complained about what they called a heavy-handed police presence that began with the use of dogs for crowd control soon after Brown's shooting — a tactic that for some invoked the specter of civil rights protests a half-century ago. The county police force took over leading both the investigation of Brown's shooting and the subsequent attempts to keep the peace at the smaller city's request.
County Police Chief Jon Belmar, though, said his officers have responded with "an incredible amount of restraint," as they've been the targets of rocks, bottles and gunshots, with two dozen patrol vehicles being destroyed.
Police had also asked earlier that people assemble in "an organized and respectful" manner and disperse before evening.
The city and county are also under criticism for refusing to release the name of the officer involved in Brown's shooting, citing threats against that officer and others.
Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson called improving race relations "the top priority right now" but also said he won't be pressured into publicly identifying the officer — despite, he said, mounting demands from clergy, computer hackers and protesters.
"We have the right to know, and the family has the right to know who murdered their son," said Sahari Gutierrez, a 27-year-old Ferguson legal assistant.
Jackson said he welcomes Justice Department training on racial relations in the suburb, where two-thirds of the 21,000 residents are black while all but three of the police force's 53 officers are white.
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon cited the "worsening situation" in Ferguson in saying he would be in the area Thursday. He asked community members to be patient and calm while the investigation proceeds and urged law enforcement agencies to "keep the peace and respect the rights of residents and the press."
Jackson said the investigation remains weeks away from completion.
Police have said Brown was shot after an officer encountered him and another man on the street. They say one of the men pushed the officer into his squad car, then physically assaulted him in the vehicle and struggled with the officer over the officer's weapon. At least one shot was fired inside the car.
The struggle then spilled onto the street, where Brown was shot multiple times. In their initial news conference about the shooting, police didn't specify whether Brown was the person who scuffled with the officer in the car and have refused to clarify their account.
Jackson said Wednesday that the officer involved sustained swelling facial injuries.
Dorian Johnson, who says he was with Brown when the shooting happened, has told a much different story. He has told media outlets that the officer ordered them out of the street, then tried to open his door so close to the men that it "ricocheted" back, apparently upsetting the officer.
Johnson says the officer grabbed his friend's neck, then tried to pull him into the car before brandishing his weapon and firing. He says Brown started to run and the officer pursued him, firing multiple times. Johnson and another witness both say Brown was on the street with his hands raised when the officer fired at him repeatedly.
Among the protesters critical of the police response has been state Sen. Maria Chapelle-Nadal, a Democrat from nearby University City
"I just want to know if I'm going to be gassed again, like I was on Monday night?" she asked Jackson at a press conference. "And I was peaceful. And I'm your state senator."
"I hope not," he replied.


text:
Suggs, Webb, stand out at Super Bowl media day
Terrell Suggs stood up, threw down his microphone, kicked over his chair with a back heel as he stepped down from his podium, and then kicked over a cooler.
Onlookers laughed, satisfied that the Baltimore Ravens' mischievous linebacker had properly punctuated the frenetic, free-for-all known as Super Bowl media day.
LIVE BLOG: Super Bowl XLVII
Suggs plays a central role in one of the more intimidating defenses in the NFL, and at least some of the conversation involved football, and what it would take to slow down San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick in Sunday's NFL championship game.
But media day is never just about football, not even when the players are interviewing each other.
Posing as a reporter, defensive end Arthur Jones asked Suggs which staple of Louisiana cuisine he preferred, gumbo or jambalaya.
"That's a good question, and I'm glad you asked that, Arthur," Suggs said. "Definitely gumbo."
Suggs also was asked if he is the best dancer in the locker room: "No way. 'Be Nasty,' (safety) Bernard Pollard - he's definitely the best dancer. And I think if we get this done come Sunday, you all will get to see a good dose of it."
And maybe even get a song from Suggs. He wasn't shy about serenading everyone with a rendition of Meatloaf's "I Would Do Anything For Love," moments after he took his seat behind the microphone.
Katherine Webb credits a couple of camera shots of her watching the BCS national title game in Miami with landing her at the Super Bowl in New Orleans.
Otherwise known as Miss Alabama USA and the girlfriend of Crimson Tide quarterback A.J. McCarron, Webb has been hired by TV's "Inside Edition" to be its game correspondent.
"It's so exciting and absolutely crazy at the same time. It's happened so fast. I feel like I'm living on a plane but it's a great journey," said Webb, who was making her first trip to New Orleans for her first Super Bowl.
The 23-year-old Webb has been working on a fledgling modeling and acting career in Los Angeles.
"It's kind of funny how everything kind of lines up to me being at this point," said Webb, explaining that it all started with meeting McCarron while at home in Alabama late last year.
She was hired to interview players and coaches during media day, but wound up being interviewed herself. A colleague had to cut it short a few times, apologetically explaining that Webb had a job to do.
She said she prepped for the job.
"A.J. is interviewed all the time, so it's kind of cool to ask him, 'What do I need to ask and what do I need to stay away from? What annoys players the most to be asked?'" she said.
Webb created a buzz at the BCS game when she was caught on camera and play-by-play announcer Brent Musburger enthusiastically remarked that quarterbacks "get all the good-looking women." ESPN later apologized for the comments.
Webb, however, never thought an apology was necessary.
"Everybody seems to think that I'm offended and I'm not at all," she said. "I appreciate it. I appreciate the fact that he notices a beautiful woman. Women need to be told their beautiful more often. I took no offense to it."
For the second year in a row, Super Bowl media day was open to fans for the price of a $25 ticket. They were allowed to sit in sections of seats along the sideline with good views of players on the field, and paid attendance was 5,479, according to NFL spokesman Michael Signora.
When fans walked in, they were given gift bags that included small radios so they could listen to interviews. Other items were mostly product samples from sponsors, including chips and laundry detergent.
Among the fans were John Grimsley and Lisa Wyatt of Baltimore, sitting together a few rows from the field wearing purple jerseys with the No. 52 of star Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis. They said the ticket price was worth it.
"This is a very rare experience," said Grimsley, who has Ravens season tickets and tickets to Sunday's big game. "I've never been to anything like this. To be able to see all the Ravens being interviewed, to see some of these guys up close, you don't really get to see that when you go to the games. They're there and then they're gone."
The NFL says 5,205 reporters from 24 countries have credentials for the game, and some chose to work in costume at media day.
There was a correspondent from the Nickelodeon television network dressed as a super hero called Pick Boy, wearing black tights with a cape and trim of fluorescent orange and green.
Pick Boy approached 49ers practice squad linebacker Nate Stupar, asking him if he wanted to race. Stupar declined, saying he wasn't about to risk pulling any muscles for something like that.
"I would say that's the first time I got interviewed by a guy with a cape on," Stupar said. "It's entertainment and it's going to be fun to be around the entire week."
Univision radio play-by-play announcer Rafael Hernandez Brito wore a Spanish-style wrestling mask for part of the session.
TV Azteca reporter Jose Marquez Zamora looked like a rodeo clown, with his painted face, round rubber nose and long, pointy shoes covered with light blue sequins. He said he was, in fact, dressed as a typical clown in Monterrey, Mexico, and wasn't concerned about whether his interview subjects took him seriously.
"I don't make interviews about serious stuff," he said. "I only have fun with the players, so our viewers in Mexico get interesting stuff and also get entertained."
Niners offensive lineman Alex Boone was asked about his hair style, which looks similar to a mohawk - Boone calls it a rhino hawk - and whether he had the best hair on the team.
"Absolutely. I think I get it from my mom's side," Boone said. "My mom's got great hair."
He added that he never in his career had been asked about his hair in a football interview, and then reflected on how the range of questions on media day truly sets it apart from a typical NFL interview session.
"Weird. Very weird. A lot of questions coming this way and some of them aren't football-related, which creeps me out a little bit," Boone said. "But it's a trip, and I'm excited to be here."
When players and coaches were asked to play along with a joke about the growing influence of social media in everyday communication, results were mixed and appeared to expose the generation gap between some players and coaches.
49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and others were asked to answer some questions in hash tags only. The tags, which might look like (hash)SuperBowl on the website Twitter, are used to help social media users identify trendy topics.
"That would be very challenging to me," Harbaugh said. "I don't know the hash tag world that well. I don't have one. I don't have a Tweeter (sic). I'm not real good at that."
Ravens kicker Justin Tucker was more cooperative, answering several questions in a row about his Super Bowl experience as a rookie with, "Hash tag, awesome."


text:
Anderson and Kathy hunt for Ryan Seacrest in Times Square and end up running into Carson Daly.
Post by: Anderson Cooper
Filed under: Kathy Griffin • New Year's Eve 2013
I happen to think that the Anderson/Kathy pairing is brilliant!! So funny together! Great way to start the New Year, with laughter!!
They are both awesome. Happy New Year Anderson and Kathy!
Kathy Griffin is probably the worst New Years Eve Host ever on television... She makes CNN look bad. Poor Anderson.. Let's hope this is the last we have to see of Kathy.... !
you do realize that not all reporters are boring and serious... Kathy Griffin is one of those people who are serious when needed, but has a REAL PERSONALITY
Kathy and Anderson you guys are awesome and it's gonna be an awesome 2013!
This has become an annual comment to CNN.
Love Anderson on a daily basis.
Despise Kathy. So much, we will not be watching tonight. Mute volume when we see her face.
If you are going to have someone vulgar and mouthy, why not Chris Rock or someone who is really funny!!!!!
PLEASE lose the Kathy gig. She sucks!!
The only night out of the year that we do not watch CNN!!
AC is just annoying. Giggle Giggle . Kathy needs better support.
really? so r u telling me that he is not allowd to laugh?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with AC361°


text:
Homemade Boiled Dressing
Fresh Salmon Salad
From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...We're heading for the coast today. Pollen counts here in the valley are fearsome and a day of ocean breezes will help clear the head and get the holiday weekend off to a rousing start. I've organized a potluck of sorts and my contribution to communal feast is going to be a salad made with cucumbers and freshly poached salmon. This is not wedding or garden party food. The salmon will be served in chunks that are lightly tossed with a homemade boiled dressing and it will be accompanied by a selection of breads for those with trenchermen appetites or carb cravings. I made the dressing yesterday and it is happily chilling in the refrigerator. The salmon and I are communing as I write this. Once it is done, I'll break it into chunks and refrigerate it as well. My plan is to combine and toss the various elements of the salad just before serving. The combination is lovely and I plan to use the extra dressing for other salads this weekend. Mine will be just one of many dishes that we share today and I'm really looking forward to sampling all of them. Here are the recipes for the boiled dressing and the poached salmon salad. I know that those of you who try them will be really pleased with the results.
Boiled Dressing...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite
1 tablespoon flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1-1/4 cups milk
3 egg yolks, lightly beaten
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons butter
1) Combine flour, sugar and salt in a heavy saucepan. Gradually whisk in milk.
2) Place over medium heat and cook, stirring, until mixture starts to boil. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat.
3) Gradually stir the hot mixture into the egg yolks. Pour back into saucepan.
4) Add vinegar and mustard. Stirring constantly, bring mixture to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in butter. Cool to room temperature. Refrigerate. Yield: 1-1/2 cups.
Fresh Salmon Salad...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite
3-1/2 pound piece fresh salmon
1/2 lemon sliced
1-1/2 tablespoons salt
6 whole black peppers
1 bay leaf
Tops from 2 celery stalks
1-1/4 cups boiled salad dressing
1-1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoon fresh snipped dill-half that if using dry
1-1/2 cups peeled cucumbers cut in 1/4-inch dice
Optional garnishes
Leaf lettuce
Tomato wedges
Lemon wedges
Sliced cucumber
1) To make salmon: Wash salmon. Place in large kettle or fish poacher. Add just enough water to cover. Add sliced lemon, salt, black peppers, bay leaf and celery tops. Slowly bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer covered for 30-35 minutes, or until fish flakes when tested with a fork. Using a slotted utensil, carefully remove salmon from water and transfer to a plate. Let cool until it can be handled. Remove and discard skin and any bones. There should be about 2-1/2 pounds of salmon remaining. Break into large chunks and chill for several hours.
2) To make dressing: Combine boiled dressing, lemon juice, dill and diced cucumbers in a medium bowl. Mix well and chill for at least one hour.
3) To serve: Just before serving toss salmon with dressing. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Line a bowl or plate with lettuce. Mound salmon in center. Garnish as desired. Yield: 12 servings.
One Year Ago Today: Swedish Strawberry Cream Cake
Two Years Ago Today: Watermelon, Corn and Black Bean Salsa
You might also enjoy these recipes:
Smoked Salmon Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette - Just One Cookbook
Smoked Salmon Salad with Dilled Bearnaise Dressing - All Day I Dream About Food
Roasted Salmon Salad with Dill and Balsamic Vinaigrette - Cafe Sucre Farine
Simple (Sensational) Salmon Salad - Cooking with Michele
Lemon-Caper Salmon Salad - Coconut and Lime


text:
CrimeMagazine.com, April 5, 2009
Mumia Abu-Jamal's 27 years on Death Row for a murder he did not commit would have turned almost anyone else into an embittered, defeated man. Instead, he has remained what he always was, "the voice of the voiceless," as he demonstrates yet again in his most recent book, Jailhouse Lawyers: Prisoners Defending Prisoners v. the U.S.A. (City Lights Books, 2009.)
Through hundreds of essays, radio commentaries and now six well-written, meticulously researched books, he has defied the walls that encase him to speak out against oppression. His voice his heard weekly throughout the United States on Pacifica Radio and his writings are read and admired throughout much of the world. From the bowels of Death Row, where 3,600 others languish in the United States, Abu-Jamal presses on for justice, day after day, year after year.
Jailhouse Lawyers: Prisoners Defending Prisoners v. the U.S.A. opens a tightly shut door into the operations of the U.S. penal system by chronicling the exploits of dozens of jailhouse lawyers – both men and women – who have fought the injustices the courts and the prisons have dealt them and their fellow prisoners. Their accomplishments, against all odds, have been incredible. Their story is a story never before told.
For the vast majority of the 2.3 million prisoners in the United States and for Abu-Jamal himself, the overriding, inescapable reality about the U.S. justice system is that the law is only what a judge says it is.
As Abu-Jamal has found out through his long and tortuous appeal process, "What published opinions claim, in all their legal niceties, matters little." Although he does not reference his own case in this or any other book he has written, valid constitutional legal claims that have won others new trials have done nothing for him. It did not matter to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, a federal district court, or a U.S. court of appeals that the prosecutor at his 1982 violated his constitutional right to a fair trial by using peremptory challenges to purge 10 otherwise qualified blacks from sitting on his jury. It didn't matter even though the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Batson in 1986 that racial discrimination in jury selection was grounds for a new trial. (Abu-Jamal currently has a request for a Writ of Certiorari before the U.S. Supreme Court on his Batson claim, a request that marks his final legal recourse. If Cert is denied, he will remain in prison for life barring clemency by a future governor of Pennsylvania.)
Abu-Jamal himself is a jailhouse lawyer, who wryly notes that it is "the bane" of the vast majority of jailhouse lawyers "to be able to help everybody but themselves." He references a Pennsylvania case where he and another jailhouse lawyer won a new trial for an inmate sentenced to death. Given this new chance, the inmate copped a plea and had his sentence reduced to life, a reduction that got him off Death Row into the general prison population.
Becoming a jailhouse lawyer has long been met with retaliation by prison guards and prison administrators. Even to this day, jailhouse lawyers are the most discriminated against and punished by prison authorities. Abu-Jamal cites a 1991 nationwide study led by scholar Mark S. Hamm entitled "The Myth of Humane Imprisonment" that "found that no segment of the modern prison population – not blacks nor gays nor AIDS patients nor gang members – outweighed jailhouse lawyers when it came to prisoners who were targeted by the prison administration for punishment."
The report noted that guards and administrators "had a standard practice of singling out jailhouse lawyers for discipline and retaliation for challenging the status quo." Abu-Jamal finds it telling "that those who, for the most part, are most apt to use pen and paper – rather than, say, a 'lock in a sock' – to address and resolve grievances, are the most targeted of all prison populations." To this day, in every "hole" in every prison, Abu-Jamal writes, "you will find some jailhouse lawyers who are there on pretextual – and frequently false – disciplinary reports," even though since 1969 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional to discipline prisoners for representing themselves or other prisoners.
In that case, Johnson v. Avery, the high court rejected Tennessee's punishment against an inmate for assisting a fellow prisoner with his legal work.
No nation in the world incarcerates as many of its citizens as does the United States. Right now one in every 99 people in the country is behind bars. More staggering is that one in every nine black men between the ages of 20 and 34 is in prison. Because blacks are so overrepresented in U.S. prisons, Abu-Jamal sees the prison system as nothing more than a modern day extension of the Slave Codes that prevailed before the Civil War and the Black Codes that took their place in the South right after it. For the newly emancipated blacks living below the Mason-Dixon Line, the Black Codes criminalized various behaviors for which only blacks could be "duly convicted." Black Codes made crimes of vagrancy, breach of job contracts, absence from work, the possession of firearms, and insulting gestures or acts.
President Clinton, a former constitutional law professor, signed into law in 1996 two draconian measures that undermined what little recourse prisoners have to post-conviction justice. One was the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act that made it far more onerous and difficult for prisoners to file wrongful convictions claims in Federal Courts; the other was the Prison Litigation Reform Act which limited the number of suits prisoners could file in federal courts and flat out barred suits against the state for mental or emotional injury. No longer could a prisoner seek redress or compensation for psychological damages inflicted by sociopathic guards who make sport of demeaning prisoners. Ironically, the ringleader of the Abu Ghraib guards in Iraq was a former guard at SCI-Greene in Pennsylvania where Abu-Jamal is incarcerated. "Long before U.S. Army Reserve Corporal Charles Graner brought pain, humiliation, and torture to Iraqi people detailed in Abu-Ghraib outside Bagdad, he was giving the blues to prisoners in Pennsylvania, where he was known as a brutal, sadistic, racist guard," Abu-Jamal writes.
Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act, the acts of mental torture committed at Abu Ghraib, if committed in U.S. prisons, would have no standing.
"Is it surprising," Abu-Jamal asks, "that a nation that began its existence with Slave Codes, then continued for a century with an equally repressive set of Black Codes, would institute, by hook or crook, Prisoner Codes?"
Despite the Prison Litigation Reform Act, Abu-Jamal estimates there are tens of thousands jailhouse lawyers practicing pro se for themselves and their fellow inmates. They do this out of need, particularly when it comes to challenging unfair prison conditions, and because the great majority of prisoners are not entitled to court-appointed counsel post-conviction. In the first instance, real lawyers are banned from representing inmates in suits against prisons and prison authorities in every state but Arizona. In the second instance, court-appointed attorneys – for a myriad of reason, but mostly relating to money – have failed miserably in representing the legal and constitutional rights of indigent defendants at their original trials.
As Clarence Darrow stated over a hundred years ago, "...the courts are not instruments of justice. When your case gets into court it will make little difference whether you are guilty or innocent, but it's better if you have a smart lawyer. And you cannot have a smart lawyer unless you have money. First and last it's a question of money...We have no system for doing justice, not the slightest in the world."
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).


text:
Sort by:
Disclaimer: All vehicle prices are plus tax, title, plate and dealer fees. The advertised price does not include sales tax, vehicle registration fees, finance charges, documentation charges, and any other fees required by law. We attempt to update this inventory on a regular basis. However, there can be a delay between the sale of a vehicle and the update of the inventory. Pricing and availability of vehicles not currently in dealer inventory may vary based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to options, specials, and fees. You may not qualify for the offers, incentives, discounts, or financing. Dealer and offers, incentives, discounts, or financing are subject to expiration and other restrictions. See dealer for qualifications and complete details. All advertised vehicles are subject to actual dealer availability. Certain vehicles listed may not be available. Prices exclude state tax, title, license, and document preparation fee. Vehicle option and pricing are subject to change. Prices include all dealer rebates and dealer incentives. Please check with your dealer for more information. Images displayed may not be representative of the actual trim level of a vehicle. Colors shown are the most accurate representations available. However, due to the limitations of web and monitor color display, we cannot guarantee that the colors depicted will exactly match the color of the car. Information provided is believed accurate but all specifications, pricing, and availability must be confirmed in writing (directly) with the dealer to be binding. Neither the Dealer nor Optiauto is responsible for any inaccuracies contained herein and by using this application you the customer acknowledge the foregoing and accept such terms. All vehicles priced as currently equipped. Price does not include any dealer added options that are installed after sale.


text:
click here to see the best desi chat rooms on the net…
Hbccrindia.org, a live chat portal dedicated to bring the fun and excitement of Indian live chatting indoors for their male patrons, now offers no-nonsense webcam chatting services to their patrons.
Hbccrindia.org, a indian chat rooms portal that has made it possible for their male patrons to kill their boredom using a simple internet connection, now offers no-nonsense online Indian cam chat services to its patrons. Unlike many other webcam chatting portals, the leading Indian live chat portal doesn��t display a single third-party advertisement on their website. The owners maintained that joining the community is a relatively easy job for new members, as they can simply use a valid email address, create a username and a password and head straight into the private chat rooms that remain abuzz 24 hours a day and 365 days in a year.
The online Indian cam chat portal works on some basic rules and principles. New users need to pay a one-time non-recurring fee to join the portal and the owners said that they have used highly secure payment gateways that can be used with complete peace of mind. With over eighty thousand amateur models that are featured in a constant rotational way, the Indian live chat portal happens to be one of the biggest of this kind on the internet today. The owners added that if the users have a query, they can get in touch with the live customer support at any point during the joining process.
Apart from amateurs, the online live chat portal also has pornographic actors as a part of the rapidly growing community. Premium members can easily chat one-on-one with their favourite pornographic actors and have endless fun. Indian cam chat enthusiasts can also choose the Hindi option from the language drop-down menu and narrow down their search.
"We aim to make Hbccrindia.org one of the safest places on the internet to enjoy uncensored live chatting with Indian models and pornographic actors and divas from around the world. Although we could earn more profits through third party ads, we have decided to keep the community completely advertisement-free as we want to create a splendid experience for each of our valued clients", said the owner and chief developer of Hbccrindia.org during a press conference.
About the Company
Hbccrindia.org is a popular web cam chat portal. For more, Click Over Here Now…
Hbccrindia.org Offers Now No-Nonsense Indian Cam Chatting Solutions For The Male Patrons
Hbccrindia.org Gives You Now No-Nonsense Indian Cam Chat Services To Its Male Patrons


text:
More than 41 million expected to travel during holiday
No three-day weekend? That won't keep us at home.
Even with Independence Day falling on a Wednesday this year, AAA Chicago estimates a record 41.1 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more during the holiday week.
Most of them — 34.7 million — will travel by motor vehicle. And most will leave by Friday.
"Despite the midweek holiday, Americans still plan to celebrate the holiday with friends or family," said Beth Mosher, spokeswoman for AAA Chicago. "The lower fuel prices may also be an added incentive for travelers considering a day trip on July Fourth."
Here are some things to know about the hot travel season:
'Lower fuel prices'?
Depends on what you compare them to. The current Illinois average for a gallon of self-serve regular unleaded is $3.15, down from $3.51 a month ago. But a year ago, it was $2.95.
AAA warns that gas prices could fluctuate this travel season. And if you leave the state, make sure you fill up before you return — gas is running 20 cents a gallon cheaper in Iowa and Illinois, and 10 cents a gallon cheaper in Wisconsin.
How much is other stuff gonna cost me?
Hotel rates are up an average of 5 percent from last year, AAA reports, and car rental rates are up 3 percent. But airfare is down 12 percent from last year.
AAA Chicago spokeswoman Nicole Niemi said the increased costs are due to higher demand for rooms and cars — with more people traveling, the companies can charge more. Conversely, she said airfare drops are likely due to increased competition within the industry.
What are the roads going to be like?
Highway construction crews will take a few days off to help the millions of motorists get to and from their barbecues, but some lanes may still be closed and speed restrictions in place. Some projects will finish up in time for the holiday week — like the long-awaited interchange at Interstate 90 and Illinois 173.
John Wegmeyer, project implementation engineer for the Illinois Department of Transportation, reminded motorists to slow down and watch for construction barricades even if there aren't any workers around.
While more people will be traveling this holiday week than around Memorial Day or Thanksgiving, they'll be spread out over a longer period of time, Niemi said. That means that Friday's pre-holiday rush will be a lot less congested than the Fridays before a holiday weekend.
It also means that people taking day trips on the Fourth of July won't run into as many jams as if it were closer to the weekend.
What about the skies?
With lower airfare and gas prices still high, this is projected to be one of the busiest summers at airports in years. AAA Chicago said 4.7 million Americans will fly during the upcoming holiday week, a 5.5 percent increase from last year. Meanwhile, airlines have cut capacity to increase profitability, making planes more packed, Niemi said.
July is the busiest month of the year for O'Hare International Airport, and Friday and July 5 will be particularly busy days, said Gregg Cunningham, spokesman for the Chicago Department of Aviation. During the holiday rush the normal suggestion to get to the airport two hours before your flight is particularly advised.
"We're looking at days where we're expected to have about 250,000 to 260,000 people travel through the airport in a given day," he said. "It's expected to be the busiest summer in O'Hare's history."
Cunningham gave three tips to travelers — use the cell phone parking lot when picking someone up; use the new service to get free real-time flight information sent to your cell phone, BlackBerry device or laptop; and remember the security requirements on liquids in carry-on baggage. Information about all three is available online at flychicago.com/aboutus/SummerTravel2007.shtm.
O'Hare was recently ranked number 2 in the country in an airport "misery index" by U.S. News & World Report. The ranking was based on the percentage of flights that are delayed and how crowded flights are.
Cunningham downplayed the ranking, saying officials didn't know how the magazine's method for computing the rating.
"We feel that we're ready and able to manage the projected increase in passenger volume," he said.
But with O'Hare as the primary airport in the region, particularly with international flights, travelers don't have too much choice. Travel agents say O'Hare's reputation won't affect vacation plans.
Meanwhile, Chicago/Rockford International Airport expects packed planes but no delays on its flights to Florida, Las Vegas and Denver. Executive Director Bob O'Brien said peak travel time for the airport is now until mid-August, but passengers don't need to plan more time for their trip.
"They should arrive one hour before the flight, not two hours nor an hour and 15 minutes. It's just not necessary," he said.
Staff writer Thomas V. Bona may be contacted at 815-987-1343 or email@example.com.


text:
Nomon Tim compares the stepwise psychological process of practice to the unknowable emptiness side. How to hold both together?
I want to again welcome everyone to sesshin. And as I was saying last night I hope we can really invite all sides of ourselves to sesshin. Invite all of us here. The excited one. The scared one. The grumpy one. And let all of those voices be heard.
I want to invite us not to think that because of these august circumstances we are only supposed to bring along the "Zen" version of ourselves: that projected idea of our best self who is calm and collected and grounded. If we do that our practice is not real. Is not complete. We need to invite our real experience forward to this powerful community practice to be truly real and transformational
The question is how we listen to these many voices inside us. What is our relationship to them?
I'm reminded of the Rumi poem that's very popular in mindfulness classes, probably I've quoted it in the zendo before. This poem advocates a kind of radical acceptance of everything.
The Guest House, Rumi
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
— Jelaluddin Rumi,
translation by Coleman Barks
Maybe you've heard and contemplated that poem. What would it be to truly let everything in and greet it at the door laughing?
And it strikes me today contemplating that poem that we've probably all had that experience of something really terrible happening. At the time the worst possible thing. And then in the end, with time, realizing that somehow that challenging time or event led to some new opportunity, some new possibility, some new way of being. That maybe it was indeed "clearing you out for some new delight" in the end.
And yet how little we seem to be able to consider that possibility when we're in the misery of these life challenges.
Here's a response to Rumi's poem:
Amy Newell – On Hospitality: A Reply to Rumi
Welcome all the visitors, you say.
Do not put bars on the windows
or locks on the doors. Do not close up
the chimney flue. Duct tape and plastic
sheeting will not keep the visitors at bay.
They'll pound on the doors, they'll break
your windows, they'll breach the barricades
they'll storm the beach, swarm in like ants
through cracks. They'll leak like water through
the walls, and creep like mice, and curl like smoke
and crack like ice against the window glass.
Keep them out? It can't be done, don't try.
Welcome all the visitors.
Fine. There's all kinds
of welcoming, however.
I do not have to throw a house party.
I will not post flyers.
There will be no open bar.
No one will get drunk
and lock themselves in the bathroom.
No one will break furniture, grind chips
into the rug, throw anyone else in the pool,
or lose an earring in the couch.
I do not have to run a guesthouse, either.
There will be no crackling fire.
And no easy chairs. I will not serve
tea to the visitors. l will not dispense
ginger snaps and ask my guests
about themselves:
"Did my mother send you?"
"Why must you plague me?"
"Why not stay awhile longer?"
"Who are you, really?"
If I must welcome —and I am convinced I must —
Let me build a great hall to receive my guests.
Like a Greek temple, let it be open on all sides.
Let it be wide, and bright, and empty.
Let it have a marble floor:
beautiful – and cold, and hard.
And should we really simply accept everything as it comes? Accept that it's there certainly, but how to be gee
Zen seems to be so practical, so psychological, so scientific. If we do the meditation we'll improve our psychic functioning. We'll be able to be with all that arises with equanimity. We'll be more grounded. More clear. More self-aware. Less triggered. And so on.
This is true as far as it goes, but it's only one part of a rich heritage. And I think the other aspects of our practice are just as central and as important as these apparently sensible psycho-physical processes that we think about when we think about meditation. This whole thing doesn't quite make sense in that simple a-then-b way.
In our morning service today we chanted the Heart Sutra – that great pithy, dense text on emptiness which is chanted at Zen centers all over the world, and in other lineages too. The Heart Sutra is such a universal Mahayana text. And the heart sutra doesn't celebrate self-improvement really does it?
The Heart Sutra celebrates freedom from everything. Freedom in everything. Freedom in the senses. Freedom in the mind. Freedom in suffering even. With nothing to attain it says.
We don't always listen to that part. Nothing to attain? What about attain a more grounded way of being? What about attaining more inner security? What about attaining more peace?
Consider the result of having nothing to attain: with nothing to attain, a bodhisattva relies on prajna paramita, and thus the mind is without hindrance. Without hindrance there is no fear.
Not just a more spacious relationship to our fear. No fear. And not that we had fear and then it went away when we heard these great teachings. No fear and there never was any fear.
Does zazen help us see our fear? Actually allow ourself to feel it? This fear we've held down in the dark for so long? Does it support us in allowing the scared, sad, worried part of ourself into the room like I was saying last night? Does zazen help us work with our fear? Is it our fear exactly?
Or does zazen help us see there is no real fear after all, nothing that's really real in that way?
After the Heart Sutra we've been chanting an an enthusiastic dedication to prajna paramita, to the Perfection of Wisdom, here personified as a female bodhisattva. "Homage to the Perfection of Wisdom, the lovely, the holy…" have you appreciated that chant?
Prajna Paramita – wisdom beyond wisdom, the wisdom that knows there is no wisdom in that fixed way that we think about wisdom and wise people and so on. Wisdom that isn't hindered by any idea, including any idea of "wisdom."
Our verse is actually a somewhat edited and cleaned up version of the first section of chapter VII in the Prajna Paramita Sutra in 8,000 lines which we studied last October. We didn't have time in that retreat to appreciate this chapter so I thought this would be a good time for that. And besides we have this intention to really explore our chant books which was a lot of fun in the Fall.
Our text are from words of praise spoken by Sariputra in a conversation with the Buddha
Sariputra: The perfection of wisdom, O Lord, is the accomplishment of the cognition of the all-knowing. The perfection of wisdom is that state of all- knowledge.
The Lord: So it is, Sariputra, as you say.
Sariputra: The perfection of wisdom gives light, O Lord. I pay homage to the perfection of wisdom! She is worthy of homage. She is unstained, the entire world cannot stain her.
She is a source of light, and from everyone in the triple world she removes darkness, and she leads away from the blinding darkness caused by the defilements and by wrong views. In her we can find shelter.
Most excellent are her works. She makes us seek the safety of the wings of enlightenment. She brings light to the blind, she brings light so that all fear and distress may be forsaken.
She has gained the five eyes, and she shows the path to all beings. She herself is an organ of vision. She disperses the gloom and darkness of delusion. [171]
She does nothing about all dharmas.
She guides to the path those who have strayed on to a bad road. She is identical with all-knowledge.
She never produces any dharma, because she has forsaken the residues relating to both kinds of coverings, those produced by defilements and those produced by the cognizable.
She does not stop any dharma. Herself unstopped and unproduced is the perfection of wisdom.
She is the mother of the Bodhisattvas, on account of the emptiness of own mark. As the donor of the jewel of all the Buddha-dharmas she brings about the ten powers (of a Buddha). She cannot be crushed. She protects the unprotected, with the help of the four grounds of self-confidence.
She is the antidote to birth-and-death. She has a clear knowledge of the own- being of all dharmas, for she does not stray away from it. The perfection of wisdom of the Buddhas, the Lords, sets in motion the wheel of the Dharma.
What are to make of these two views of our practice?
On the one hand the doing of practice is essential. We need time on the cushion, lots of it, time to unbend, time to settle, time to soften. And just sitting there won't do for us either. It needs to be wise carefully considered practice. Skillful practice. Guided through our own attention to the what we're most deeply feeling and learning. Guided by our teachers whom we really need to keep in touch with. Guided by listening to our wisest friends. And little by little we grow and develop. Like lotus flowers come up from the mud.
On the other hand there's nothing to do. The Perfection of Wisdom is wise because she does nothing about all dharmas. She's radically okay with things as they are. She moves through reality with total grace and ease. Doing good works for all beings without being caught by beings, or even the idea of there being beings to help.
This is our rich heritage. To hold these two opposites with grace and skill. We need to practice with great care. With extreme dedication. Make our practice the most important thing, the thing through which all efforts and activities are expressed.
And we need to lighten up so completely that there's nothing left to think or do or hold or be. Enter radically into the womb of the Tathagatha – the birth-light of being.
Here's a nice way of approaching this balancing act of practice, I've been enjoying sharing this teaching from the meditation teacher Dan Nussbaum in some of my classes.
In Meditation You Have Permission:
You have permission to do the meditation practice of your choice, or, not do it.http://skillfulmeditation.org/articles/threeconditions.html
You have permission to do the meditation practice you've been doing all along. You have permissionto believe in it or question it or enjoy it or let it take you where it takes you. You have permission to be bored. How else will you ever get to the bottom of boredom? You have permission to try something else.
You have permission to think. You have permission to worry. You have permission to wonder if you're doing it right.
You have permission to wonder what doing it right means. You have permission to see yourself wondering. Did you start meditation to become a good meditator? You have permission to do it wrong. But if you have permission to do it wrong, how can you do it wrong? You have permission to be bad.
You have permission to remember what it was like to be carefree. You have permission to doubt those memories. You have permission to get back to those memories whether you made them up or not. You have permission to know how you make up memories.
You have permission to go over German verbs. You have permission to think about the different grades of motor oil. You have permission to wonder, How is this meditation? You have permission to note body sensations. You have permission to do something else with body sensations. Love them. Be suspicious of them.Forbid them. Give them meaning. Question that meaning.
You have permission to have feelings. You have permission to need someone, to worry out of habit, to fear vaguely, to feel disgust, to insist on getting things your way.You have permission to let things go on. You have permission to find yourself in unexpected mind states.
You have permission to get lost. You have permission to be curious and interested. You have permission to get transfixed. You have permission to feel calm. You have permission to feel sleepy. You have permission to sleep. How else will you know about waking up if you don't have permission to be asleep?
You have permission to know yourself in meditation. You have permission. You have permission. You have permission.
By Dan Nussbaum
(advocate of open awareness meditation, no techniques)


text:
or log in with
Your donation is to PurpleStride Atlanta 2023 on behalf of
Deborah Davis DeWitt.
Does your employer have a matching gift program? Please use the field below to find out.
Thank you for supporting me in the PurpleStride Atlanta 2023.
-Deborah Davis DeWitt
PurpleStride, the walk to end pancreatic cancer, is one of the largest sources of funding for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Your action funds vital initiatives that make a direct impact on the lives of thousands of patients and families affected by this disease.
Thank you so much for your support.
Loading ...
Your donation will count towards the team's fundraising total. In addition, please give credit to the person that asked for your support to recognize them for their efforts to end pancreatic cancer.
Make a general team donation
2023 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, PanCAN, PurpleStride and Wage Hope are the trademarks of Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Inc.
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is registered as a 5013 nonprofit organization. Contributions to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's tax identification number is #33-0841281.


text:
The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday revealed new details of a federal prescription drug sting that ultimately cost Google half a billion dollars. In early 2009, a man serving jail time for wire fraud helped the authorities set up websites purporting to be Mexican pharmacies offering prescription drugs to American consumers in violation of US laws. According to the US Attorney who led the sting, senior Google executives, including Larry Page, "knew about the illicit conduct" but did not put a stop to it.
Federal officials approached Google with evidence of its employees' wrongdoing in mid-2009. After two years of negotiation, Google agreed to pay $500 million to settle the allegations and ward off criminal charges against the company. The settlement was widely reported last year, but few details about the charges were made public at that time. New details emerged this week after the man the feds enlisted to help set up the sting, convicted con artist David Whitaker, revealed details about it to the Wall Street Journal. Whitaker received a nearly 6-year jail sentence for his part in an unrelated fraud case late last year—a sentence that was presumably reduced in recognition of his assistance in the Google case.
When the sting began in 2009, Google had in place policies designed to block illicit pharmaceutical advertising. Whitaker's orders were initially rejected under those policies. But Whitaker says Google sales reps helped him tweak his sites to skirt the rules.
"It was very obvious to Google that my website was not a licensed pharmacy," Whitaker told the Journal. "Understanding this, Google provided me with a very generous credit line and allowed me to set my target advertising directly to American consumers."
Whitaker and federal agents set up a series of websites with names like SportsDrugs.net and NotGrowingOldEasy.com, which claimed to offer drugs such as HGH, steroids, RU-486, oxycodone, and hydrocodone to American consumers without a prescription. Whitaker told the Journal that he "signaled his illegal intent" by, for example, telling Google sales executives that his shipments had been seized by US customs officials.
According to federal prosecutor Peter Neronha, internal documents obtained by investigators demonstrate that senior Google executives, including now-CEO Larry Page, "knew what was going on." Before she left for Facebook in 2008, Sheryl Sandberg reportedly raised concerns about the sale of illicit pharmaceutical ads. The Journal doesn't provide details about the extent of Page's knowledge.
We contacted Google, but the company declined to comment on this week's revelations. "As we've said, we take responsibility for our actions," a Google spokesman told Ars. "With hindsight, we shouldn't have allowed these ads on Google in the first place."
Pattern of profiting from illegal behavior?
This isn't the first time Google has faced accusations of turning a blind eye to illegal activities by advertising customers. Last year, the Copyright Alliance, an advocacy group funded by major content companies, accused Google of turning a blind eye to the use of Google ads to monetize copyright infringement, and speculated that the firm's opposition to the PROTECT IP Act was motivated by a desire to profit from piracy.
Specifically, the post pointed to a 2006 affidavit in which the operator of a "rogue" website said that he had worked directly with a series of Google ad representatives who, he claimed, were aware of the infringing activity on the website but nevertheless helped him optimize his advertisements to increase clickthrough rates.
For smaller customers, Google sells ads using an automated, self-service Web interface. This interface makes it easy for the search giant to disclaim knowledge and responsibility for the content that appears alongside its ads. But as customers' ad volumes grow, Google's human sales force begins working directly with customers to help them optimize their ads and encourage them to buy more. At this point, it becomes much harder for Google to dissociate itself from unsavory content.
Google does cut off advertisers who are found to be engaged in illegal activities. For example, the Megaupload indictment revealed that Google stopped doing business with Megaupload in 2007, citing discomfort with the volume of infringing material on the file-sharing site.
Still, it's worth asking why Google was given the opportunity to settle such serious charges against it by writing a check, while Megaupload not only faced criminal charges, but had its servers seized and its executives arrested before they even had their day in court. (Google gave back $500 million, while Megaupload was said to have earned only $175 million total.)
To be sure, there are important differences between the two firms, but the core accusation—that Google employees knew about serious illegal activities by their customers—is also central to the government's case against Megaupload. The government is probably right that Megaupload was much more deeply involved in infringing activities than was Google as a whole, but Megaupload should have had its day in court before its servers got shut down.
Listing image by Photograph by Images Money


text:
Best excuse? You're nine-years-old. Then again, the little boy you'll meet isn't the only unlikely soul to get a summons. Another potential juror has nine lives. Only on the RidicuList.
Post by: Anderson Cooper
Filed under: The RidicuList
Kind of strange isn't it? Jurors are picked from a list of registered voters.How did this child get placed on voter roll? Are the parents guilty of voter fraud?By any chance are they Democrats? I'd be interested to see if any deceased members of this family or deceased friends are on the voter registration rolls.
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with AC361°


text:
We've all heard the complaint or something like it: "I've been staring at the screen all day. My eyes hurt." But is it really the screen's fault? (And if so, is there any long- or short-term damage?) Would our eyes be any better off perusing printed pages all day?
Yes, you can blame the screen, but not for everything. Some of the same eye-care advice you'll hear for computer screens apply to paper-bookworms, too.
Screen-induced eye strain has an official name, if not a surprising one: computer vision syndrome. The term emerged about 20 years ago and describes a host of bothersome symptoms, including eye fatigue, burning and itchy eyes, blurred vision and sensitivity to bright light. People who spend two or more continuous hours at a computer every day are at greatest risk for developing the syndrome, according to the American Optometric Association.
For most people, symptom treatment is enough — managing their reading position, taking rest breaks or using eye drops to relieve dry eyes. That said, dry and irritated eyes are associated with disorders of the cornea, the transparent layer at the front of the eye. See a doctor if you're putting drops in your eyes five or six times a day and still feel like they're dry, says James Salz, a University of Southern California eye doctor and spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Still, he adds, "there's no evidence that there's any long-term damage from reading on a screen."
What is it about computers that irritates our eyes? The problem boils down to a couple of key factors:
Blinking. Study after study has found that when reading on screens people tend to stare more than they do when reading on a printed page. More staring means less blinking, which means your eyes get less refreshment from tears. "When you blink, you spread a layer of tears over the eye," says Mark Rosenfield, a professor at the State University of New York College of Optometry. With less blinking, eyes get dry and sore.
Another difference between the printed page and the computer screen is where the words are positioned relative to the eyes. People generally look down while reading a book or newspaper, but staring at screen usually means staring straight ahead. When you look down, more of your eye is covered by the eyelid, but when you look straight ahead more of your eye is exposed to the drying effect of air. Coupled with reduced blinking, this leads to dry eyes. Reading on mobile devices may be more book-like in terms of positioning, but blink rate is still a concern.
A small 2013 study found that when reading print on paper or e-ink (the technology that attempts to replicate as closely as possible the printed page experience, Kindle paperwhite in this study), the subjects — 12 men who read for at least an hour on each device — blinked more often when reading on paper or e-ink than they did when looking at an LCD screen (a tablet with its own light supply, the Kindle Fire here). Participants also reported more visual fatigue after reading on the LCD; fatigue rates on e-ink and paper were equivalent.
Distance. Not surprisingly, people reading on their smartphones tend to hold the device much closer to their eyes than they would a book or magazine. In a 2011 study, Rosenfield found that the 219 participants held their phones 14 inches from their eyes to read text messages and 12 1 / 2 inches for a Web page. Typically, people read printed text from a distance of 15 3 / 4 inches.
The result is that "your eye has to work much harder to focus at close distances," Rosenfield says. The eyes turn in more (not quite cross-eyed) and that takes effort. Over time, that can lead to fatigue.
Moreover, if you're of a certain age, that focusing effort becomes even harder. At about age 40, natural changes in the eye's focal length means most people can't see closely as well. That's when you start holding the restaurant menu at an arm's length to read.
Other considerations are resolution, brightness, and glare, says Alan Hedge, a professor of ergonomics at Cornell University. "The resolution of print on paper is higher than any screen out there." Brightness should be adjusted for comfort, either on your screen or the lamp by your reading chair. As for glare, it is easier to read a book or an e-ink on an e-reader in the sunshine. But if you're reading late at night in bed, you might prefer the backlit screen of a tablet.
The good thing about electronic reading is that you can change so many things to make the experience more comfortable, such as increasing the size of the text and fiddling with the brightness, which can also help you keep the words at a distance. Salz says 18 inches is ideal.
Common sense goes a long way too, Salz says. "As soon as you feel fatigue, look away."
Indeed, workplace advice for people who read on computers for a large part of their days, comes in the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
So good for us: A new excuse to gaze out the window.